In this project, the growth of fungal hyphae is modeled. As a parameterized approach, different hyphal structures can be learned, simulated and reproduced for further analysis or applications. The algorithm is implemented as a recursive approach, which allows to potentially grow a new hyphal branch at each depth level. The angle of curvature, frequency of new branching, and piercing (in the alveolus) is also parameterized, making it highly adaptable for different scenarios. Interactions with immune cells (alveolar macrophages) is realized according to the set of rules within the agent-based modeling.
Hyphal growth simulation
Publications
Guided-deconvolution for correlative light and electron microscopy
Ma F, Kaufmann R, Sedzicki J, Cseresnyés Z, Dehio C, Hoeppener S, Figge MT, Heintzmann R
Surrogate infection model predicts optimal alveolar macrophage number for clearance of Aspergillus fumigatus infections.
Saffer C, Timme S, Rudolph P, Figge MT# (2023) NPJ Syst Biol Appl 9, 12.
The immune system has to fight off hundreds of microbial invaders every day, such as the human-pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. The fungal conidia can reach the lower respiratory tract, swell and form hyphae within six hours causing life-threatening invasive aspergillosis. Invading pathogens are continuously recognized and eliminated by alveolar macrophages (AM). Their number plays an […]
Aspergillus fumigatus hijacks human p11 to redirect fungal-containing phagosomes to non-degradative pathway.
Jia LJ, Rafiq M, Radosa L, Hortschansky P, Cunha C, Cseresnyés Z, Krüger T, Schmidt F, Heinekamp T, Straßburger M, Loeffler B, Doenst T, Lacerda JF, Campos A, Figge MT, Carvalho A, Kniemeyer O, Brakhage AA
The decision whether endosomes enter the degradative or recycling pathway in mammalian cells is of fundamental importance for pathogen killing, and its malfunctioning has pathological consequences. We discovered that human p11 is a critical factor for this decision. The HscA protein present on the conidial surface of the human-pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus anchors p11 on […]